Well as the title suggests just wondering who has done their PGCE? any advice? pro's/con's etc..... at a bit of a cross roads and thinking of a change in direction.
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SO WHO HAS DONE PGCE?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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There's huge demand for pgce at the moment - everyone's making a dash for a 'safe' job so first thing to do would be to establish availability of places.
Seems to be a reasonable route into education if you have some experience workign with kids etc.
Would also depend if you were lookign at primary or secondary as well, I think.
(not done pgce myslef but my wife is a senior teacher at a school and has mentored pgce students).
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think I am right in saying that it is an entry requirement of PGCEs that applicants have at least 2 week's experience in school. So making contact with your local school and arranging to go in to get some voluntary experience as soon as possible would be a good first step.
Most people find them hard; more in terms of workload than in terms of the difficult nature of what you will study. However, teaching is very rewarding and it does get easier as you get more experience.
Any idea whether you want primary or secondary?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tried it, hated it, quit half way through my first teaching practice.
I was supposed to be teaching secondary IT, having come from a Software Engineering background. It was just crowd control. Year 11 couldn't even do a formula in a spreadsheet. It seemed to me that they were not actually teaching them about the subject of IT and computers, they were simply teaching them how to use a particular piece of software and how to pass the exam.
The government are pushing the PGCE at the moment because there is a mass exodus of teacher from the schools.
My GF is a lecturer at a FE college, she loves it, but she is working with older students. Having said that, some of them are spoilt brats that are only going to college to pick their allowance up. It will be chaos next year when the stupid soddin government introduces the 14 to 19 diploma. 14 year olds should not be in a college of FE. Some of the 16 year olds are bad enough but 14 is taking the piss.
Oh and however much you enjoy the bit standing in front of the class, it is a fraction of what you will be expected to do in the way of prep and marking.
They say you will have NO social life for at least 2 years if you go into teaching. They are not joking!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yep!
DON'T DO IT IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
"DON'T DO IT IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY!!"
he's on stw and posting, I think sanity has long since packed its bags and caught the bus...
Posted 2 years ago # -
teaching is not a safe job at the moment, pay freezes loom, pupil numbers are down in many places (next five years) and schools are making cuts left right and centre
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes, I did a PGCE, in PE!!!
Al, what make you think you want to be a teacher, and what subject are you thinking of?
SB
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did a pgce in geography for a few months, absolutely hated every minute of it. If I had to do one again I would do it in pe as it gets you out of the classroom and is probably a bit less strssfull on a day to day basis.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have done my PE PGCE and am now a PE teacher-alot of what you do is classroom based and it can be very stressful as a student teacher who is being observed if you have to teach outside on playing fields then deliver a theory lesson on the other side of school and get all resources/workbooks etc there and back! Just something to think about! Also a very over-subscribed PGCE for the last few years!
P.S. where in Ireland are you froma nd where are you thinking of doing PGCE?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh-and Foxychick is correct, many folk go insane during their teaching placements.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm currently mentoring a Primary PGCE student and done so for several more over the last few years. It's a good choice but you've got to be 100% committed because it will take over your life for the next year. In fact it will take over your life for the rest of your career!
Another option is the GTP route. It's harder work than the PGCE but it generally produces teachers who are much better prepared for teaching at the end of it. It also pays a salary and you'll be based in a school for the majority of the year, as opposed to 2 teaching placements and a lot of time in Uni. Let me know if I can help at all.Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh, groundskeeperwilly...it wasn't the PGCE that drove me insane...it's the 21 yrs of teaching that have taken care of that!!
I spent about 4 months in a school full-time on a voluntary basis before I did mine. Really helped getting through the interview.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did one in Design Technology. It sent me absolutely insane. I finished it, went to Glastonbury and then walked back into my old job the day after and haven't regretted it once.
Started drinking loads, lost my fitness, long term GF and my social life was none existent! My tutor said that isn't uncommon either. Unless your doing the classic subjects or PE forget teaching anything that is related to fully understanding the subject, that advert where she makes a wind tunnel makes me laugh out loud everytime.
Its certainly not a safe job either, there are people off my course who still don't have jobs a couple of years down the line and their PGCE's are invalid after 5years.
But if I haven't put you off Its a great way to move overseas. I did get to try some private schools as well as some comps and overall i'd say the comprehensive is more interesting and much more rewarding but for me I felt like I was qualified in babysitting.
Get a taster first you really have to be into it to enjoy it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
My chum did PGCE last year, second career and hardest course in demands terms she's ever done. Now can't find a (primary school) job, and only had 1 days supply this term. Very few jobs at the mo' and supply not available everywhere as many schools use TA's.
Good luck tho'
Posted 2 years ago # -
Must admit to being a touch out of date, did my PGCE in 93/94. Primary though. Had worked in OE before but hadn't been in a primary school since my own 20 years before. Bugger all time in uni. About 8 weeks I think.
Consider primary. Plenty of supply about, more than I can do and lack of funds mean that schools like and NQT where they can.
Huge amount of paper work which is why I only do supply now and the whole point of education has gone. Be prepared to spend most of your teaching time submitting to stupid government ideas rather than teaching kids what they need to know. Nice hold though Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm wanting to do one next september, is there a website with information on how to apply? It'll be in leeds to teach science
Posted 2 years ago # -
if you cant use google maybe you shouldnt consider teaching
I did a GTP in science that an my NQT year were harder than my degree, my master and my PHD together. I like teaching now though, mostly.
Posted 2 years ago # -
2nd the above post! Did one at the IoE in London 6 years ago hardest thing I have done academically in my life (had been out of education for 11 years!) it was tough working, studying and the pressure of a 15K word assignment! One of my training schools was a living hell in London village.
6 years down the line I am still teaching although that was not the plan and I love it more as the months and years pass! Go for it!
NQT year is tough too!
I don't swallow the government bullshit either, mind you I don't want promotion, I am happy doing what management seem to run away from : teaching and engaging with young people!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did an Further Education PGCE last year teaching Outdoor Education at a local college. From what i've read/heard it seems to have been easier than primary/secondary PGCE's, at least a few of the students actually want to be there! Thats not to say that it wasn't still a lot of work though.
the whole thing is still very results driven which can be extremely frustrating at times. My head of dept. actually changed a students mark on an assignment I had already marked so that he would pass at one point. I would say that for the bad times there were plenty of good times.
There's a fair amount of FE work coming up at the moment as well, so long as you specialise in the right subjects, anything to do with the building trade seems to be going well, and literacy and numeracy always seem to be in demand somewhere.Posted 2 years ago # -
That guy who bashed his pupil on the head with a heavy weight also had a PGCE
The PGCE is a passport to a low-pay, low-status, high stress job.
People with PGCEs on average don't make it to their official retirement age of 60
They're either dead or on long term absence from stress
Or, to avoid the above, get out early on a poverty pension
Or get sacked for unproved allegations by pupilsPosted 2 years ago # -
That guy who bashed his pupil on the head with a heavy weight also had a PGCE
The PGCE is a passport to a low-pay, low-status, high stress job.
People with PGCEs on average don't make it to their official retirement age of 60
They're either dead or on long term absence from stress
Or, to avoid the above, get out early on a poverty pension
Or get sacked for unproved allegations by pupils
OK, but what about the downside ?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The downside?
Oh God the holidays - the interminable, endless holidays, when you pray for something useful to fill your time other than reading, socialising, sitting in the sun, travelling abroad, watching telly, lying in bed, drinking coffee in Starbucks, walking in the countryside, going to the cinema, playing with the kids
I could go on
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks for all the input, I currently teach those kids that have been excluded from schools but feel more like some sort of prision officer/some sort of hardcore nanny to be honest. Was considering teaching something that may put my degree to good use or science, at the moment its an idea which wont go away so off to see someone about my options next week.
Would be interested to hear a little mo from stratobiker any chance you could mail me direct?
Cheers Al
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did one and loved it. Teaching has taken me to Australia on exchange for a year, to Oxford on a teacher's bursary, to Boston (Mass) for a conference (and going again next year). It's a hard job and I've taught in some rough environments but it's very rewarding. I've helped students go on to do all sorts of things and many keep in touch. Personally I couldn't get excited about someone else's profits and teaching pays me 40 odd grand for doing something I really enjoy.
Posted 2 years ago #
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